From quirky hits (like *batteries not included and Critters 2) to epic haunts (like Stephen King’s The Stand), filmmaker Mick Garris has proven himself to be one of the industry’s true masters of horror. Literally, even; creating the beloved Showtime series Masters of Horror. With such an impressive portfolio of spooky stories under his belt, it’d likely be hard for any horror fan to pick their favorite Garris project. And yet, almost instantly, they’d probably discard one of his films from contention: Sleepwalkers.

So naturally, that’s the film that I wanted to speak with Mick Garris about. But before we went back in time to discuss how Sleepwalkers got made, we talked about the making of his career; an amazing story that involves interviewing auteurs, operating R2D2s and catching the eye of Steven Spielberg (then later Stephen King).

Later this week we’ll be publishing our full interview with director James McTeigue (V For Vendetta, Ninja Assassin), but until then I’ve been posting some of the more newsworthy bits to come out of our discussion. Yesterday, McTeigue revealed his next project, a Se7en–stlye thriller titled The Raven, and he gave us an update on the development of the sci-fi adaptation Altered Carbon. You can read about both projects in our previous post.

James also took the time to address three comic book movie related rumors that have been circulating the interwebs recently, including Plastic Man, X-Men Origins: Magneto and a Superman reboot. Rumors debunked and quotes after the jump.

Could The Wachowski Brothers be in line to direct a reboot of Superman for Warner Bros? A scooper over at AICN caught an interview with V For Vendetta director James McTeigue on Berlin television where the filmmaker admitted that Plastic Man was originally scheduled to be the brothers’ next project, but the film has been delayed indefinitely due to a major shake-up of projects at Warner Bros. McTeigue was even signed on to direct second unit, as he has done on past Wachowski Brothers productions.

So, for the record, we pay no mind to Script Girl‘s buxom scoops, but if a rumor allegedly originates via radio in Berlin, we’ll throw out a “might be true” lasso. Nurse Ratched, are you there? However, the following equation: Keanu Reeves + Wachowski Brothers + Plastic Man has a probable ring to it. Back in the ’90s, the Wachowskis wrote a script based on Plastic Man, the “golden age” comic book character (and later fringe Justice League member) and shopped it around town. You can read their old draft here. Post-Matrix, the brothers have harbored the project as a viable option. Now, a tipster tells CHUD that their producer pal, Joel Silver, gave an update on German radio…

“[The tipster] claims that Silver says that Keanu Reeves will be playing Eels O’Brien (the real name of Plastic Man). Apparently this is the start of a new love period between Reeves and the Wachowskis, as Silver (via tipster) said that the brothers want to work with him on all their future projects.”

With their protege, James McTeigue, helming Ninja Assassin (which Silver was discussing apparently), Larry and Andy Wachowski haven’t chosen a project to follow-up Speed Racer, one of this summer’s rare belly flops. Obviously, a superhero film with Reeves would be a safe bet in today’s marketplace…albeit one centered on an eccentric character with lower pop culture visibility than Ant-Man?

Plastic Man originated in the ’40s. He was but a mortal goon until chemicals leaked into a bullet wound and enabled his body to stretch like rubber. Via Wikipedia…

“Plastic Man can stretch his limbs and body to superhuman shapes, lengths and sizes, with flexibility and coordination extraordinarily beyond the natural limits of the human body. He can become entirely flat so that he can slip under a door, use his fingers to pick conventional locks, pose as inanimate objects such as vehicles or pieces of furniture, and disguise himself by changing the shape of his face. There is no known limit to how far he can stretch his body.

Also…

“He once disguised himself as Batman’s utility belt.”

Well then, I think it’s safe to say that Plastic Man‘s fate hangs on the success of The Dark Knight. So, remember, Plastic Man is counting on you this weekend. Until then, if this rumor develops or gets vaporized, we’ll update accordingly.